| The publisher services company recently | | | | 4. You have nothing unique to say in your field - |
| announced that John Edgar Wideman, two-time | | | | Maybe you've spent a career as a school teacher, |
| winner of the Faulkner Award for fiction, would | | | | following curriculum. Perhaps you've been a cubicle |
| be publishing his collection of short stories in | | | | slave and the creative juices have been beaten |
| conjunction with Lulu's new VIP program. | | | | out of you. It's more likely you've forgotten how |
| A press release said Wideman decided against a | | | | unique your own perspective really is. |
| traditional contract - and royalty advance - | | | | 5. You'd rather not contribute to publications in |
| because he wanted more control over the | | | | your niche- Once you start publishing you start |
| publishing process and to develop a direct | | | | marketing, and writers use writing as a way to |
| connection with his readers. | | | | get the word out. But maybe you are |
| You Know Who You Are | | | | embarrassed that you might seem a "know it all" |
| But anyone connected to book publishing often | | | | if you are published in relevant trade magazines |
| hears the opposite story. A woman spent months | | | | and websites. That could slow you down. |
| working on a book, but never got any further. Or | | | | 6. You prefer to wait a few years and see if you |
| a man, getting up early for years, completes a | | | | get offered a contract - There's a certain kind of |
| manuscript but just prints a few copies for | | | | writer who is happy to write, and never get |
| friends. Why? | | | | published if they can't get that publishing house |
| Because they have found reasons to not | | | | contract They accept the wisdom of the agents |
| self-publish. Here are the top reasons you might | | | | and editors they submit to over the years, and |
| decide not to self-publish: | | | | feel it's better that their work stay unknown. |
| 1. You don't want people to look to you as an | | | | That's a tough one. |
| authority - Authors acquire a definite authority | | | | 7. You hate the idea of autographing books for |
| within the area they write about. Does this make | | | | buyers - Having fans may be disconcerting. People |
| you nervous? | | | | in our culture often feel unworthy of attention. |
| 2. You're afraid of speaking in public - It's common | | | | Maybe this shame was drilled into us when young; |
| for authors to be asked to speak in public, and to | | | | it certainly is long-lasting. |
| pursue public speaking as a way to market a | | | | The World of Publishing is Changing: It's Your Turn |
| book. The number one fear of Americans is the | | | | Now |
| fear of public speaking. Perhaps this is really the | | | | Writers who publish a book themselves are |
| fear of appearing a fool in public. Is that what's | | | | usually energized by the experience. Since print on |
| stopping you? | | | | demand means you'll never get left with a garage |
| 3. You don't need another income stream - | | | | full of unsold books, the risks have become |
| Novelists would like to make money from their | | | | almost completely psychological. |
| books, but would write them anyway. Nonfiction | | | | It has never been easier, faster, or less |
| authors often write in order to make money, to | | | | expensive to get into print. With the tools of the |
| capitalize on a business opportunity or to improve | | | | internet and social media, the marketing landscape |
| their clientele or hourly rate. The independently | | | | has never been so level. Go drag that box out |
| wealthy and people satisfied with their current | | | | from under the bed. Fulfill what you started, or |
| income might see self-publishing as a waste of | | | | start what you've dreamed of. You won't regret |
| time. | | | | it. |